Government written answer on limitation
July 02, 2008
Written answer on limitation published 7 February 2008
Mr. David Kidney (Lab):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
(1) what account he plans to take of the recent court ruling on limitation periods in drawing up his own proposals for making statutory changes to limitation periods;
(2) when he plans to bring forward legislation on changes to limitation periods.
Bridget Prentice:
‘The Government will take full account of the recent ruling by the House of Lords regarding limitation periods. The Government are preparing a consultation paper which will seek views on a draft Bill to implement the Law Commission's recommendations to reform the law in this area. The consultation paper will also consider specific issues arising out of the House of Lords decision namely the exercise of the court's discretion to extend the limitation period and the way in which the claimant's ‘date of knowledge’ is defined in abuse cases.
The Government intend to consult fully before changing the law of limitation. Depending on the results of the consultation, the Government will then seek to introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows. A date for the publication of the consultation paper has not yet been set’.